The US Forest Service Made This Fantastic Cocktail Guide in 1974

Created in 1974 by a brilliant (and probably bored) Forest Service employee, the intricately detailed chart warns, "No matter what you mix, take care – the drink you mix may be your own!"

High Ball

This Forest Service chart is all you need to know about how to make incredibly precise cocktails, proportions and all. Created in 1974, it includes a handy guide to everything, all in metric. (Source: National Archives via Kottke)

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The Garnish

Each of the pictures are coded according to these illustrated guides, so that you can look quickly prepare and garnish the drink just right.

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The Liquids

Since this is in black and white, the cocktails are coded by pattern, with rum a series of crosshatches, and scotch a series of parallel lines.

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Rum and Cola

A rum and cola seems like an easy enough drink, but this lets you know how to nail it just right. (Apparently they don't believe in the "just do half and half" method.)

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Gin Rickey

The gin rickey is like a freshly squeezed cousin to the gimlet, mixing two flavors that were paired by God herself: lime and gin. We want one right now.

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Screwdriver

We've never put ice cubes in screwdrivers, but we've also never fought a bear or put out a forest fire, so maybe we're doing it wrong.

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Rob Roy

Named after a Scottish folk hero, the drink contains ... Scotch. Here you thought the answer was "Irish whiskey" or whatever the Welsh drink. Grape juice?

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Whiskey Sour

This whiskey sour knows that you want mostly whiskey and a little sour and not the other way around.

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Martini

Stirred. You get it stirred. Don't ask about shaken. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

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